• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.323-337
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• 2006

This work discussed the species composition, phylogeny, spatio-temporal distribution, ecology and natural history of North Korean Pinaceae or pine tree family, which seems to be important to maintain nature and ecosystem in the Korean Peninsula. Out of five genera and sixteen species of Pinaceae of the Korean Peninsula, North Korea contains four genera and eleven species of Pinaceae, including Pinus densilflora, P. koraiensis, P. pumila, Picea jezoensis, P. koraiensis, P. koraiensis var. koraiensis, P. pungsanensis, Larix gmelini, L. gmelinii var. olgensis, Abies holophylla and A. nephrolepis. In terms of phylogeny Pinus is closely related to Picea, and followed by Larix. Abies is close to Tsuga which only occur at Ullung Island. Distributional pattern of North Korean Pinaceae can be classified into four types; three species of nation-wide montane type i.e., Pinus densilflora, P. koraiensis and Abies holophylla, four species of central and northern subalpine type, i.e., Pinus pumila, Picea koraiensis, Larix gmelini and Abies nephrolepis, one nation-wide subalpine type, Picea jezoensis, and three species disjunctive to north type, i.e., Picea koraiensis var. koraiensis, P. pungsanensis, and Larix gmelinii var. olgensis. Pinaceae species occurring on the alpine and subalpine belts of North Korea, such as Pinus koraiensis, P. pumila, Picea jezoensis, P. koraiensis, P. koraiensis var. koraiensis, P. pungsanensis, Larix gmelini, L. gmelinii var. olgensis and A. nephrolepis are considered as the glacial descendant from the boreal region. Those species might have migrated from the north during the Pleistocene glacial epochs in search of favourable condition, and since the Holocene period they survived on the hostile alpine and subalpine environments, in which they are more competitive than warmth-tolerant temperate vegetation. Certain species, such as Picea pungsanensis, is segregated on the isolated mountains since the Pleistocene period, and forced to adapt to local environment, and eventually became an endemic species of North Korea. Recent rapid global warming trend especially in northern high mountains of North Korea could cause an unfavourable environment for the survival of cold-tolerant Pinaceae of the alpine and subalpine belts. Pinus densiflora, which is occurring on the montane belt might faced with difficulties due to both the deforestation and the outbreak of insect-borne disease, such as Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.122-125
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• 2015

House dust mite (HDM) as a major allergen and damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) such as S100A8 and S100A9 trigger the pathogenesis and severity of allergic disease such as asthma. Regulation of neutrophil apoptosis is an important immune response and its dysregulation is involved in pathogenesis of allergic diseases. In this study, we examined the effects of HDM, S100A8 and S100A9 on spontaneous apoptosis of normal neutrophils. We considered the importance of the difference between in vitro and in vivo results and developed a new in vitro system consisting of a combination of immune cells and T helper (Th) cytokines. Extract of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP), S100A8, and S100A9 inhibited neutrophil apoptosis in culture of neutrophils alone without other leukocytes. DP and S100A8 more strongly suppressed neutrophil apoptosis in combinations of neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes or monocytes than in a culture of neutrophils alone. Anti-apoptotic effect of S100A9 in the mixture of immune cells was similar to that in neutrophils. DP, S100A8, and S100A9 blocked neutrophil apoptosis, regardless of pretreatment with a T helper (Th) 1 cytokine (IFN-$\gamma$), Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10), a Th9 cytokine (IL-9), a Th17 cytokine (IL-17), a Treg-producing cytokine (TGF-$\beta$). These findings may enable elucidation of allergy pathogenesis due to HDM and DAMP.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.671-678
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• 2007

Purpose: Venous malformation(VM) which often causes pain and discomfort is the most common type of vascular malformations. Although it is presented with disfigured appearance and associated soft tissue or skeletal hypertrophy, the molecular bases of VMs are poorly understood. Differentially expressed genes(DEGs) of VMs were investigated to illuminate the molecular mechanism of the disease entity. Methods: Gene expressions of VM patients' subcutaneous tissue were studied in comparison with normal persons' by $GeneFishing^{TM}$ technique using the annealing control primers (ACPs) to identify DEGs. Candidate genes were sequenced and screened by basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) afterwards. Results: Among seventy DEGs identified, forty DEGs which had shown significantly different expression pattern were sequenced. Twenty eight out of 40 were up-regulated while 12 were down-regulated. BLAST searches revealed that 37 were known genes and 3 were unknown genes. Many genes were involved in the differentiation and remodeling of smooth muscle cells, opposed to the previous hypothesis that a lot of angiogenetic genes would be involved. Furthermore, several transcription factors and related genes, as well as cell signaling and metabolism regulators, were up regulated. Conclusion: It suggests that analysis of DEGs in VMs provide basic knowledge about its pathophysiology. and new therapeutic approaches.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2010

Recently the micropig has been developed as human disease model. The dental and orofacial region of micropig is similar to that of humans, so it has been used for testing implant materials and techniques. The purpose of this study is on dental image at each age using radiography and computed tomography. Total twenty-two male micropigs, two or three animals of each 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months old, were given radiographic examinations. After general anesthesia, extra- and intra-oral radiographic technique and computed tomographic scans were performed to assess the dental characterization of micropigs. The total deciduous dental formula comprised 28 teeth and was depicted as Di 3/3, Dc 1/1, Dp 3/3. The total permanent dental formula comprised 44 teeth and was depicted as I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 3/3. Hypodontia of the first premolars was common in the micropig. The permanent teeth erupted from 3 to 24 month after birth. The sequence of eruption of the permanent teeth was M1, P1, I3, C, M2, I1 + P3 + P4, P2, I2, M3. Dental imaging enables visualization of the unerupted teeth and gives more information about the development of the teeth. The growth pattern of the teeth obtained through radiographic and computed tomographic examination provides basic data in the micropig as animal model for dental research.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.3-14
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• 2003

In this review article, the meanings of the somatization phenomena were reviewed and discussed in terms of cultural psychiatric view point. The somatization is an universal psychopathology. But frequency, pattern of symptoms and it's cultural factors in the conversion of emotional distress to the somatization are much different from culture to culture. Conventional impression and monotonous interpretation that somatization is prevalent in the non-Western or traditional society and it is due to poor differentiation of the psyche is seriously criticized. Cultural metaphors of expressing emotional pain, traditional disease concepts, conventional way of adopting a given culture and society, and medical delivery system and milieu could be regarded as important cultural factors of the somatization. Cultural meanings of somatization in Korea were summarized and discussed. Finally, clinical guide line for transcultural practice were summarized.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.4
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• pp.284-287
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• 2010

We report the case of a 68-year-old man with a stromal tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), which had metastasized to the lung. The patient complained of an enlarged mass in the anterior chest. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a sternal abscess with multiple nodules in both lungs. A thoracoscopic lung biopsy of the nodules and incision/drainage of the sternal mass were performed simultaneously. CT of the pelvis revealed an enlarged prostate with irregular cystic lesions in the pelvis. Prostate biopsy was done and demonstrated hypercellular stroma with minimal cytological atypia, a distinct pattern of STUMP. The sternal abscess proved to be tuberculosis and the lung lesion was consistent with STUMP, which had spread from the prostate. However, to our knowledge, the tuberculous abscess might not be assoicated with STUMP in the lung. The patient refused surgical prostatectomy and was discharged with anti-tuberculosis medication. On one-year follow up, the patient had no evidence of disease progression.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.57-67
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• 2000

Currently asthma is considered to be an inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia, and mediated by Th lymphocytes expressing a Th 2 cytokine pattern. In many recent studies, molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objectives: We aimed to identify the effect of Haepyoijin-tang on the transcriptional activities of cytokines involved in the asthma model. Materials and Methods: RBL-2H3 cell lines were used. Cells were stimulated with DNP-IgE or Calcium inophore+PMA for maximal gene expression. After 24 hours of Haepyoijin-tang-treatment, total cellular RNAs were collected using the Trizol solution method. Then the transcriptional activities of cytokines(IL-1, 4, 5, 10, 13, $TNF-{\alpha}$) were measured by RT-PCR with electrophoresis. Results: DNP-IgE and Calcium inophore+PMA induced IL-4/IL-5 production separately peaked at 3 hours after the stimulation, but the efficacy was better in the Calcium inophore+PMA group. In the IL-4 study, sample groups of 10%, 1 %, 0.01 % Haepyoijin-tang-treatment showed 83%, 98%, 96% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. In the IL-5 study, sample groups of 10%, 1%, 0.1 %, 0.01 % Haepyoijin-tang showed 97%, 99%, 99%, 99% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. In other studies any result was not obtained. Conclusions: This study shows that Haepyoijin-tang has an inhibitory effect on the transcription of IL-4 and IL-5 gene expression in RBL-2H3 cell lines. Advanced studies are required to investigate the mechanisms of inhibition by herbal medicine in the asthma model.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.53-58
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• 2011

This Study is to propose the resonable management for cancer patients by identifying correlation among the treatment, their length of hospital stay and medical charges. Research subjbject is 144 patient that breast cancer, uterine cancer and Family Medical patients of inpatients in K University Hospital in Korea during six month, from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010. The analysis shows that the emergecy is superior range thag outpatient because each of them has 97.9%, 2.1% by looking at the path to admission. And the age of 40-49 is the higest group by age. When matrix components of breast cancer patients, principal component is composed of two axes. Factors associated with the first component appeared correlations between all variables without the age. Following results, this study is considered similar types of disease or treatments are need to introduce the DRG.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2005

Background and purpose: Cardiovascular disease will undoubtedly rise along with the aging of the 'baby-boom' generation. The purpose of this study is to find the new index of the cardiovascular aging. Methods: The effects of aging on the heart and the arterial system are surveyed in the point of structure and function. Results: Arterial stiffening is due to the fatiguing effects of periodic stress on the arterial wall and is the main reason for increasing pulse wave velocity. The systolic hypertension is caused by the early return of wave reflection. The increased after-load by the arterial change leads to the development of left ventricular hypertrophy. The reduction in left ventricular compliance cause the impairments of the diastolic function. In contrast to the lower limb, aging effect in the upper limb are almost due to the ascending aortic pressure wave and the reflected wave from the lower limb. Conclusion: We have the following points. (1) The change of physiological pulse pattern by age can be explained by the early returning of reflected wave. (2) The atrial pulse in old age are generated by the left ventricular hypertrophy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.98-105
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• 2009

Objective: Increased aortic and carotid arterial augmentation index (AI) is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. The most widely used approach for determining central arterial AI is by calculating the aortic pressure waveform from radial arterial waveforms using a transfer function. But how the change of waveform by applied pressure and the pattern of the change rely on subject's characteristics has not been recognized. In this study, we use a new method for measuring radial waveform and observe the change of waveform and the deviation of radial AI in the same position by applied pressure. Method: Forty-six non-patient volunteers (31 men and 15 women, age range 21-58 years) were enrolled for this study. Informed consent in a form approved by the institutional review board was obtained in all subjects. Blood pressure was measured on the left upper arm using an oscillometric method, radial pressure waves were recorded with the use of an improved automated tonometry device. DMP-3000(DAEYOMEDI Co., Ltd. Ansan, Korea) has robotics mechanism to scan and trace automatically. For each subject, we performed the procedure 5 times for each applied pressure level. We could thus obtain 5 different radial pulse waveforms for the same person's same position at different applied pressures. All these processes were repeated twice for test reproducibility. Result: Aortic AI, peripheral AI and radial AI were higher in women than in men (P<0.01), radial AI strongly correlated with aortic AI, and radial AI was consistently approximately 39% higher than aortic AI. Relationship between representative radial AI of DMP-3000 and peripheral AI of SphygmoCor had strongly correlation. And there were three patterns in change of pulse waveform. Conclusion: In this study, it is revealed the new device was sufficient to measure how radial AI and radial waveform from the same person at the same time change under applied pressure and it had inverse-proportion to applied pressure.